Main characters: Rosa Burns, mother to Ariella and wife of Marco Zambrano. Marco – the man who is determined to get Rosa back into his and Ariella’s life.

Blurb:

MARCO

I have loved Rosa since I met her in high school English, even though the odds have always been stacked against us. She is the child of criminals, resigned to a bleak future. I’m the heir to a successful construction company and am not afraid to go after what I want.

And I want Rosa. Always and forever.

ROSA

I broke the law to make sure Marco got custody of our daughter, and I paid the price. But now that I’m out of jail, I’m terrified my ugly past might bleed into our daughter’s future.

The only way to ensure that doesn’t happen is staying far away from both of them.

But Marco isn’t letting me run from him. Not again.

Why you should read it: I actually forgot how much I love reading about the kids from St. Jude’s juvenile facility. The collective story is one of heartbreak, abuse and hopelessness for each inmate. This time, it’s Rosa’s turn. Her tale is one of bad luck and an even worse family. I really felt for what she’d been through. I totally understood her motives for protecting her own family and trying to get by any way she could. I also understood her bitterness at how things turned out. Her yearning for her family was palpable, but at times, because of her pride, she did tend to get in her own way, which was baffling and frustrating. There are some surprises along the way that I won’t spoil, but Rosa and Marco have a lot of rebuilding to do in their relationship and it’s not all plain sailing. Rosa isn’t the only one experiencing bitterness for the past, nor is she the only character who is suffering.

What you may not like: As the characters spend a fair amount of time sparring with each other, there is point-scoring going on and times when they deliberately hurt each other. There’s a particular scene where Marco makes Rosa feel like worthless – it’s a pretty well-used trope and one that really disappointed me. The easiest way to lash out at a women? The woman you love? Throw cash at her feet. Despite what she’d done or not done, this was a really cheap move that made me question my feelings about Marco.

Rating: 4/5 for another heart-wrenching story from the former inmates of St. Jude’s. For all the heartache and cruelty, I truly enjoy the interwoven stories of Tommy, Beth, Carissa, Simon and Rosa. I CANNOT wait to finally find out more about Bates – and hopefully Carissa too!

Tell Me Everything, a provocative do-not-miss novel from author Amy Hatvany, is coming November 5th and we have the gorgeous cover!

A happily married couple. A dance with a stranger at a bar.

One night—one seemingly insignificant choice—can change everything.

Jessica and Jake Snyder love each other, and their life together. Successful in their chosen careers, they reside in the picturesque, though at times stifling, Seattle suburb of Queens Ridge as they parent teenagers Ella and Tucker.

As so often happens in marriage, their romantic life falls casualty to busy schedules and repetitive routine, until one night, a stranger asks Jessica to dance. On a whim, Jake urges her to say yes, saying that he wants to watch this other man touch her, something that surprises Jessica by arousing her like never before. A door opens for them then, into a realm of exploration neither of them knew existed.

They create rules to protect their marriage, and are thrilled when their relationship is strengthened and enriched by deeper levels of communication and trust brought about by this exciting, but taboo behavior. That is, until Jessica keeps a secret from Jake and embarks on a tryst with an intriguing man from her past, who, when she tries to end things between them, decides to seek revenge.

What happens after that will threaten to destroy their world—and them.

A juicy and insightful look into the shifting definition of modern marriage and the limits placed upon female sexuality, TELL ME EVERYTHING will make you question everything you thought you knew about what constitutes marital bliss, and keep you turning pages into the night.

About Amy Hatvany

Amy Hatvany graduated with a degree in Sociology only to discover most sociologists are unemployed. Soon followed a variety of jobs – some of which she loved, like decorating wedding cakes; others which she merely tolerated, like receptionist.

In 1998, Amy finally decided to sell her car, quit her job, and take a chance on her passion: writing books.

Her background in sociology inspires and informs much of her work as she tackles timely and controversial issues in her novels including mental illness, domestic abuse, and alcoholism. She is published by Washington Square Press/Atria Books, and has been both a Target Book Club and Costco Pennie’s Pick.

Amy spends most of her time today with her kids and her second and final husband, Stephan. (Seriously, if this one doesn’t work out, she’s done, kaput, no more husbands!) When Amy’s not with friends or family, she is most likely reading, cooking, or zoning out on certain reality television shows. She eagerly awaits Bravo auditions for the cast of “Top Author.” (“Quick Edit” instead of “Quick Fire” Challenge? C’mon, producers! That’s gripping television!)

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Main characters: Nicole DaSilva, the more conservative of the DaSilva sisters, struggling with her competing priorities. Noah Newcomb, talented, virtually silent tattooist, who is the polar opposite to Nicole, but attracted to her nonetheless.

Plot: Nicole DaSilva has always been the ‘perfect’ sister. A respectable accountant, she is the only DaSilva daughter to have up sticks and moved to Sydney in pursuit of respectability and success beyond the chaos of her family.

Her plan seems to have stalled, since her engagement and her life in Sydney no longer satisfy. She misses her sisters, and needs to find out why the family business is in trouble.

There’s also the added complication of Noah Newcomb – her twin sister’s colleague and friend. He’s an enigma wrapped in a mystery and he makes her want things she shouldn’t…

Noah is a loner – not by design, but it’s better that way. His past is complicated and because of it he has no business wanting Nicole the way he does. No good can come from their mutual attraction, but that’s the thing about attraction. It won’t be denied…

Why you should read it: If you read So Wild (Sam’s book) then it makes sense you’d want her twin Nicole’s story, right? Nicole and Sam are like chalk and cheese, but bubbling under Nicole’s exterior is a very complicated and frustrated woman desperate to get out. I liked Nicole – she feels honour bound to take care of her bratty sisters and help the business succeed. That’s why I wanted her to get with Noah – she deserved to let her hair down for once and do what she wanted. She’s seriously repressed at the start of the book, so seeing her evolve and unclench was really interesting.

What you may struggle with: Noah was tricky. He’s not big on words so it was hard to get a read on him. Even though parts of the book were written in his pov, I still felt a disconnect between how he felt and what he said and did. He and Nicole had heat, and I love a bit of dirty talk, but their brand of sexual congress didn’t really do it for me unfortunately. I don’t really want to read about spitting – EVER!

Sam and Tabitha were also quite suffocating in this book. I don’t remember them being so in your face in book 1, but they were soooo frickin annoying. I get it – your sisters with no boundaries, but back up! I know we regress in our family dynamics but they were cloying and claustrophobic.

Rating: 3/5 for an engaging story featuring untypical characters. It was nice to read a book that didn’t follow the standard archetypes. Immature siblings aside, it’s worth a look.

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Main characters: Samantha Riley, successful and talented Exec assistant, who’s worked with all the best (and worst) CEOs out there. Aidan Winters, CEO of Tower Venture Capital, her latest boss and the only one who can disrupt her unflappable spirit.

Plot: Samantha Riley on at the top of her career – there’s no challenge she can’t meet, no CEO she can’t deal with. She enjoys her work at Tower Venture Capital. She’s respected, trusted to get on with the job at hand and anticipate her boss’s needs in advance. Her professional instincts make her indispensable and she loves what she does. Her relationship with her boss Aidan has always been polite and professional but it’s never gone beneath the surface. She has no idea what he does outside the office, nor does she particularly care.

Aidan Winters is used to being the king of all he surveys. His work and his private life are always separate and he’s keen to maintain the status quo. The only trouble is, lately, the more time he spends in Samantha’s company, the more he appreciates her capabilities. She’s smart, unflappable and he doesn’t know what he’d do without her. More and more his thoughts about her drift into less professional territory. Their indifferent façade is about to crumble and the pair are about to be left with some very inconvenient and combustible chemistry. Will they embrace the crazy risk, or will common sense prevail?

Why you should read it: Oh my! This book though. This book was everything. It built and it built – the main characters actually invest time getting to know each other before they risked it all. I really enjoyed the character and plot development – both were well conceived and the author really spent a lot of time in building the world, the characters and their story. I truly loved the whole thing! Aidan is not your average romance CEO – he wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth, nor is he particularly overbearing. Samantha isn’t your typical perky and sunny heroine – she has depth, she has flaws and she’s incredibly interesting. The situations both Aidan and Samantha enter into are truly hot. The author allows the slow build up and didn’t rush the story to get to the juicy bits.

What you may not like: Absolutely nothing! I loved every page, every word and will most likely be re-reading it again very shortly! This is book 1 of a series – later books will feature Aidan’s childhood friends and business partners. I hope that the bar remains as high as it has started out.

Rating: 5/5 for a refreshing and SERIOUSLY HOT story. It’s a slow burner and it was everything I didn’t know I needed this week!

I have loved Rosa since I met her in high school English, even though the odds have always been stacked against us. She is the child of criminals, resigned to a bleak future. I’m the heir to a successful construction company and am not afraid to go after what I want.

And I want Rosa. Always and forever.

ROSA

I broke the law to make sure Marco got custody of our daughter, and I paid the price. But now that I’m out of jail, I’m terrified my ugly past might bleed into our daughter’s future.

The only way to ensure that doesn’t happen is staying far away from both of them.

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Main characters: Samantha Brooks, violinist and child prodigy who is learning to stand on her own two feet. Liam North, former guardian, sometimes lover, the man who wants to protect her from anyone who would harm her. Even himself.

****CONTAINS SPOILERS: DO NOT CONTINUE READING IF YOU HAVEN’T READ OVERTURE AND CONCERTO****

Blurb:

Who is Samantha Brooks without her violin? Fear lives in the silent spaces. Love does, too. There’s a battle being waged in her heart, and Liam North is determined to win. He’ll use every weapon in his arsenal. His body. His heart. Except the spotlight puts her in the crosshairs of dangerous men.

Samantha fights to compose her own ending, even as the final notes rise to a heartbreaking crescendo.

Why you should read it: If you’ve stuck with the series through all of its twists and turns you’re going to want to read how it all pans out right? Find out all the answers to your questions – like, who is after Samantha and why? Will Liam ever stop blowing hot and cold and be brave with his feelings? In this particular book, Samantha is the one who experiences the most personal growth – she’s becoming more independently minded, she’s not afraid to sacrifice things for those she loves and she’s tenacious. Liam is still Liam. He’s like an iceberg – he has a lot of thawing out to do if she’s ever going to penetrate his heart. Despite his wariness at admitting his true feelings for Samantha, their passion is palpable, although it left me scratching my head at times about exactly what he was so reticent about. He’s already bedded her, he doesn’t want anyone else to have her – he doesn’t want to leave her – so what’s his problem?!

What you may struggle with: Ok – full disclosure: I feel a bit short-changed here. I stuck with this trilogy as it had a strong suspenseful plot that went beyond Samantha and Liam. Who was trying to harm Samantha? Why was she so important and ultimately dangerous? What happened to her dear old dad? And what of her other new-found relatives? By book 3, I had expected to get a satisfying conclusion to all of these plot points. The author created an intricate story and I expected (three books in) that the author would sew up all of the gaping plot-holes. Sadly, this wasn’t to be – several incidents and characters were left hanging and I will admit I was bewildered, followed swiftly by annoyed when they weren’t mentioned again. Did the author run out of time, or did she think no-one would notice?

Rating: 3/5 (barely) for a very half-hearted conclusion to a series with potential that unfortunately didn’t deliver. If you’re going to embark on a trilogy, you really need to do a better job of stitching together all your loose ends. The ending felt rushed and I’ll admit that I was more intrigued by the peripheral characters than the main ones in the story – perhaps the author was too and simply got distracted…

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A billionaire. His assistant. And a game that could cost both their hearts.

Aidan Winters. Gorgeous, brilliant, ruthless, and filthy rich. He’s known as the Man in Black, because New York’s most sought-after bachelor is icy perfection in an all-black suit.

As his executive assistant, I know his suit size, the security code to his penthouse, and the number to his private line. The only thing I don’t know is what would make him fall to his knees for a woman.

And then, one night, I discover Aidan’s sexy secret. And he discovers mine.

Now we play a very dirty game. By day, we’re all business. But by night… he’s not Aidan and I’m not me.

No emotions. No lies. Except for one.

If you think this is a story about a girl who hates her boss, think again.

Julie loves reading and writing hot, sexy romances with awesome alpha heroes. Her favorite things are books, coffee, her perfect cat, and her husband, not necessarily in that order. She’s a writing addict who is always hard at work on her next steamy romance.

Main characters: Zia Barnes, Royal Guard and bodyguard to the rich and powerful. Theo Coleman, philanthropic businessman who’s been inveigled into playing stand-in to a member of the Royal household.

Blurb:

Derrick Arlington is one of the world’s most eligible billionaires. Voted Sexiest Man Alive—two years running.

And I just so happen to look exactly like him.

It’s never come in handy until I get offered an actual job out of it.

It was supposed to be so simple.

Go to the Winston Isles, stand in as his body double for a few weeks, go back to my life.

But when our carefully constructed plan goes awry and the billionaire goes missing, I have no choice but to take his place and hire a bodyguard. The best in the business: a smart-mouthed, tight-assed, lady bodyguard.

Zia Barnes is the LAST thing I want, even if I need her. She’s determined, smart, and has no idea I’m a total imposter.

Good thing I have no intention on falling for her, or I’d be royally screwed.

Why you should read it: Wow! I knew I was going to adore this story having read the intro at the end of To Love a Prince and I wasn’t disappointed! Zia and Theo were adorable and the whole we-shouldn’t-but-we-really-want-to vibe struck just the right note in my opinion. I enjoyed the suspense and the pace at which the plot unfolded. The dialogue was punchy, funny and kept me fully engaged with the plot.

An example has to be Zia and her best friend Tamsin discussing Zia’s new client:

Tamsin shook her head at me. “Don’t go getting that soft look for him. He’s a grown man now. He doesn’t need you to take care of him.” “I know. I’m just experiencing empathy.” She shook her head. “I already told you that shit is bad for your health. Just as long as this empathy bullshit doesn’t catch you a case of feelings. I say sleep with him, but you need to kick it like Elsa and conceal, don’t feel.”

What you may not like: I truly enjoyed the humour, the conflict and the suspense of the book. But of course, now I have to wait for closure. Damn these duets! I know it will be worth the wait, however.

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Main characters: Elle North, young wife to Easton, unsure of where she is headed. Easton North, former sporting hopeful, now struggling to find his way.

Plot: Elle and Easton have been together since college although it certainly wasn’t love at first sight for Elle. She wasn’t interested in the campus player, but somehow he managed to show her who he really was underneath the swagger and his promiscuous reputation. Married for four years, their relationship is the only constant in Elle’s life. Her touchstone – the one thing she’s sure of.

Elle is coming to realise that despite their explosive and sexually fulfilling life together, she has thoughts and fantasies that will not disappear. She’s tried ignoring them, but they refuse to be buried. Her relationship with her husband has always been honest and so telling Easton about her fantasies seems natural. Nothing can prepare her for his reaction – will telling him bring them closer together, or be the catalyst that blows their relationship apart?

Why you should read it: I was excited to read this book, as the premise really intrigued me. I’m always drawn to stories about what happens after the ‘I do.’ Elle and Easton are a very young married couple and they both still have a lot of growing up to do. They’re dealing with professional disappointments but are trying to navigate their way through life as best they can. Their love for each other is clear and it dances off the pages. The sexual chemistry is palpable – the book is very upfront – it deals with very vivid fantasies and you’ll either love it or hate it. The scenes were extremely tantalising and well written. Have a fan handy!

What you may not like: Ok – I have a couple of issues with the book. First, the following dialogue:

“Have you ever been with a black guy?” Chelsea popped the question at normal volume, then stuffed a piece of bread in her mouth. Bread that most certainly contained gluten, despite the interrogation she just put the menu through. I eyed the bread and considered my own avoidance of carbs, one that was on a twelve-day streak. “Uh—no.” “They’re gooood,” she mused through a mouthful of bread, the word stretched out and savored, her head turning to watch as our waiter eased by and to an adjacent table, a pitcher of ice water in hand. “Very athletic.”

This paragraph came out of nowhere. There I was, trying to get into the story and this scene totally blindsided me – it’s spoken by a peripheral character and that particular comment isn’t called out by the main character in any way, which made me REALLY dislike both characters. It didn’t advance the storyline or lead to anything bigger, so I wondered why it was there at all. I don’t enjoy dialogue that treats any group of society as a monolith or somehow fetishises said group. This one paragraph made me question whether I cared about the characters at all, which is a shame. I found them shallow, self involved and vacuous. Perhaps this is how rich and privileged people talk to one another – I’m sure it is, but it doesn’t make me want to invest in them or care about them.

Rating: 3/5 for the more risqué nature of the book – that’s what I love about the author and her willingness to go all out and write a no-holds barred story. 2/5 for the rest of the story. The throwaway comment by a minor character unfortunately spoilt my enjoyment of most of this story. Words and dialogue matter (especially in this current climate) as they reveal an awful lot about who we are. This one just didn’t work for me I’m afraid.

Plot: When Valentina, newly single and (somewhat) ready to mingle is persuaded to get back in the dating saddle, nothing can prepare her for what she will find. After a little help with her online profile (courtesy of a well-meaning bff) she soon finds herself messaging a certain Donovan620 on a daily basis. They make each other laugh, it’s the most natural and relaxed she’s felt in a long time. So why not meet? Aside from the fact that she hasn’t been on a date since high school, she doesn’t know the rules and isn’t keen to get her heart broken all over again. Despite her misgivings, Valentina decides to be brave. Nothing however, could prepare her for Ford Donovan. Tall, gorgeous and also the boy who used to babysit her son!

Ford is enamoured with Valentina from the beginning and he’s not accustomed to being disappointed. Despite their rocky start, he’s determined to win her heart. Valentina is stubborn but so is he – he’s always kept his eyes on the prize, and this time will be no different…

Why you should read it: I absolutely loved this book! It was heartwarming and super romantic without giving me toothache. For quite a young hero, Ford is mature, self-assured and a ton of fun. Valentina was engaging, funny and personable. She did make quite a big deal of the age gap but her character development was truly fun to read and I loved both characters. The dialogue and the story unfolded well and it kept me reading voraciously. I finished it pretty quickly – think I’ll need to re-read it again soon too! The chemistry was pitch perfect and it really made me fan myself – the main characters complemented each other perfectly and they didn’t play stupid games. The absence of angst was quite a relief.

What you may not like: Depends on how you feel about relationships where the characters are different ages. Full disclosure: the age gap in this book isn’t cavernous, so I don’t think it was such a huge issue, but I guess there is still a double standard for men and women. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed it, so can’t think of anything to dislike. If I had to pick something, it would be the hero requesting ‘Lady in Red‘. Do 25 year-olds know such cheesy songs? Maybe…

Rating: 4/5 for a truly heartwarming book. Sometimes Vi Keeland knocks it out the park, other times her books fail to hit the mark – this one was a definite hit!